? - Forest

“Where in the bloody Tartarus is it….” an old but veteraned voice whispered to itself.

The forest is not one of the best places to have to travel through. ‘Especially if you have grown old in your time and experience. Even if the forest has been personally explored and mapped out before. Though advanced tech can only get used for so long before dying from having no access to replacements and repairs. ‘Many things have gone wrong… lost… things, secrets, technology... too much is riding on this to be fixed.

Though it shouldn’t be hard to find a damned field. No it has to be a specific field though otherwise everything could possibly go wrong. Except it already has with how late it is.’

At this moment a perfectly hidden rock behind a branch caught them in their musings and they crumpled to the ground through a bush

“I’m getting too old for this now….”

Though before anything else could have happened distant barks filled the air.

“Should’ve killed them long….”

A gloved hand reached down in front of them. They reached up and took the hand while it pulled back. A second pair of hands grabbed his back to help. Once the aged person looked up he saw a great carnage of twisted metal, though it wasn't unexpected. He turned to address those that have helped him. They both looked to have been middle aged going onto late 20's. He remembered it fondly.

"Now… I know this was hard…. But it indeed needed to be done."

The one that grabbed his hand looked around. "There are a few things that need addressing before we leave old man. You told us using the circle would fix this…" The man threw his hands out in a wide gesture before continuing. "Instead the next thing we know all this shit" he threw an arm out to the smoldering wrecks in the middle of the field. "Is taking up all the damn space. Now we have more bodies on our hands than before! Which isn't counting whatever else is in that is salvageable. So what in God's na-"

The other man stopped him by putting his hand on his shoulder. "That's enough M. Look… I started to question what we're doing also but there ain't no reason to blow up at him. We can't do anything since the princesses took most of our shit…." He looked back at the old man. Who was sitting there smiling. "Thank you for getting us out… do the princesses know?"

The old man sat and thought for a second "It'll take a…. a month before they realize…."

M lost some hostility but kept some bite. "Huh… at least that's better than our track record." He looked down to his glove. "We should be ready to go now."

He nodded back and addressed the other. "While he is busy taking me back... I need you to make sure that they make it…. I won't tell how it ends youngin…. Just do your best Young Fox….. you’ll be needing this.” He reached into his pocket and pulled out a canister. Then tossed it to him.

“What the heck is this thing?” He asked after catching it. Trying his best to remember why it was familiar.

“Just use it on the one we discussed…. this is the only way to fix it…. you can’t interact with the upcoming battle…. Now we don’t have much time to lose.” he looked over to the other man as Fox found a good grip and the nozzle. “I really can’t be seen…. and I left my kettle on… so if you wouldn’t mind.”

He nodded and reached out his gloved hand and started messing with it. The old man moved to him and put a reassuring hand on his shoulder. A portal opened then the two walked into it.

"This is going to be a pain in the as-"

Barks filled the air. He quickly went to the middle of scrap and to get what is needed done and then left.

"Couldn't the guy with armor at least do this." He mumbled while leaving the forest and tripping…..

Early Afternoon 20** AD, 25/26th(?) July

Holy and justifiable reasons can only be accumulated as wrath done upon a person. This would be much easier to exact on the one who has committed this. If it wasn’t for the fact that I'm more pinned in place to this damned piece of metal. It would also help if I wasn’t being forced down by a damned paw…. Wait a second…. a paw? My eyes fully flashed open and looked into the eyes of…. something.

“Aahh, it's nice to see finally awake.” The damned monstrosity said in a rough voice. With the voice having spoken my vision expanded to take it in. Though perceptively this guy seemed like something that is certainly fugly. The thing looked like some kind of messed up brown hound. Now this ain’t no normal type of messed up hound. It looked like The Hunchback of Notre Dame if it had more misplaced muscle growths everywhere and a mutt for a head.

The thing applied more pressure, which was rewarded by me coughing up blood. “You’re kind, disgust pack.” By now my vision has opened up again and I was able to see around me. What I saw was a disturbing sight, but not one that you would have to get used to. Just never been on the receiving end of it, and there to actually witness anything. Around me were more of the things in the clearing. Sure some of them seemed to be laying down dead, but the ones still alive were either dragging some corpses or were holding weapons up to what seemed to be others who were alive. I could only see UN troops though, there were only three of them and seemed to have been thrashed about. The mutants were also moving them over to the side as some form of show. That’s when I noticed the nice addition of what was giving me my current pain.

The mongrel has been shoving me back. It also had a sword drawn out that was close to my neck. “Truly all deserve misery and suffer.” More pressure was added to me making it even more painful. How I was even able to wake up and stay awake is beyond me as more pain filled me. "You kind has been very blassfull of our Master. Thanks to your kind we've lost privilege as member. Now we shall be allowed back into. We no longer dishonored with bodies. We gathered enough of you, enjoy what is left."

At that it turned around and walked off to the UN soldiers. Though due to the pressure being released I had to fight to stay awake. My vision blurred again at the relief of having lost some pain. My nerves must have been shot though If I lost pain.

Screaming filled the air but was quickly silenced and looking up two of the troops had swords sticking through their necks. The last guy was crawling across the ground towards me. His eyes fixed right on my chest. A glance down and I saw that my MP7 was still in its holster. Panic swelled as I realized what was happening. Looking back up I saw two of the creatures were approaching. They reached the poor dude and both plunged their swords down into the dude. They picked up their swords which is when I realized how crude they looked.

Sadly though my movements were noticed by them and they started to approach with blood thirsty looks. Swinging both my arms up to grab the gun was mad pointless since the holster wouldn’t budge. So grabbing my stomach I started to reposition myself to hopefully pull myself off of my impalement. That’s when I heard what sounded like a rallying cry. Next I know one the mutts was forced to the ground. The dogs over by the corpses looked over and raised their swords with a shout. Though was stopped when one took a bolt that went through the skull of the still standing mutt from behind and was forced to turn towards the forest as armored things ran out of the forest.

Pain exploded in my leg when a heavy object landed on it. So wincing in pain I forcefully look back at the grounded mutt. Which had its legs up like it just kicked someone off of them. Obviously being the source of the dude laying on my leg. Who was at least someone that was on the mission. He rolled over and crawled a few feet right of me before going to stand while reaching for his holster. The mutt having gotten off its back was finally standing back up and was charging him. He only got as far as slipping a Desert Eagle out of the holster before he was plowed down. The gun sliding over to me just out of reach.

The mutt pinned the sod to the ground and raised a fist. With swiftness it brought down the attack with the pure intent to kill. Though this attack was redirected into the ground and was returned. The mutt’s head barely even moved from this and instead it grabbed him by the chest and smashed his head into him knocking him out. It growled in victory and stood up and started walking towards me with fury in its eyes. Though they weren’t looking at me. Following the enraged eyes to a few feet to my left, were a crude sword. Heavy foot falls walked past over to it and the sound of a metallic object sliding across the ground.

The ragged being grabbed the sword and turned to find it's first victim. It's eyes looked like they were almost on fire within them. Like I've personally been responsible for the death of its family. It started towards it's target and I held my ground having charged into others before with the same intent. It's arm went up with the blade twisting to be stabbed. Lifting my left arm to hopefully stop it and dropping my right to my side it landed on a family shaped object. Though before anything can be done the dog was already mid stab so something would have to be sacrificed if there would be any chance of living.

Thankfully at the last second the blade was parried away. Dropping my left arm down in front of me to see another creature. Who continued to parry the mutt’s attacks and forced it back. This new creature had a dark colored tail and what seemed to be grey fur and wings, while wearing darkened armor. This didn’t matter though so gripping the object my right hand. I brought it up and cocked the slide with my left hand enough to confirm it still had ammo. It had at least one round but that was enough for a gun that was basically a hand cannon that could dislocate your arm if not handled correctly.

Pushing the slide forward and refocusing on what is happening. My new defender was on the retreat with the mutt parrying their attacks wildly. Lifting the pistol to aim turned into a bitch due to pain and not having a clear line of fire. The Mutt did something that caused them both to lose their swords and charged picking them up and throwing them down. When they hit the ground they gave off a feminine gasp. The mutt jumped on top of her and brought up a bleeding arm. That is when it’s eyes went off of her and looked scared when it saw the pistol aiming right between its eyes. “Fuck you.” I stated while depressing the trigger....

Early Morning, 23 ALR 4th, 5th Moon

It was a little too peaceful today as our scouting party prepared for the evening. We had to go around a search for any hostile activity in the area. Most problematic of them currently being the Wood Dogs. These wood dogs were a more hostile version of a regular diamond dog. Thinking about it these dogs have been causing us trouble for a long while. Thankfully they are our only enemy till we finally get new orders. Also the reason for why I’m here right now and most others. We all had a job to do out here in the forest. So having this moment right here I move on to dawning my armor on and then grabbing my short sword and crossbow.

I move from my bunk in the barracks to outside where the rest of the squad is currently sitting. They're either playing cards or making small talk. As I approach I look each of them over from my left to right. Starting with the two playing cards at the table who were known as Quick Strike and Glistening Sword. Then there was Crimson Shield, Iron Hide and Silver Wing watching the twos game Making my way over quickly slipping past others walking around or changing shifts.

As I get closer I begin to catch bits of conversation. “Alright I’ll raise you up by 15 bits on the bet if she doesn’t get here soon.”

“Alright then, I’ll raise it up by… spending the day with you then if Sharp Sight ends up showing up in the next 5 minutes.”

“Alrighty. I’ll take you up on that offer then.” This obviously being the conversation between the two playing cards. One of which has noticed me coming and has a growing shit eating grin on his face.

“Why to Celestia are you making that face, Strike.”

“Well Glissy my darl-”

Which upon hearing this causes everyone to turn to where he was looking. While she drops her head onto the table. Then proceeds to start lightly banging her head against it. Causing the two swords using the table for support to clatter onto the ground.

“-ing, it seems I have won the bet. So that means we get to spend a lovely day together soon.” he says while also tossing down his cards. Everypony had some form of amusement on their face. As I walked up to the others who were watching the game. As Strike reached over to fix the fallen gear.

Taking a second of sympathy for Glistening I turned towards the others forma. “Listen for Orders!” With that they straightened themselves and made sure they were listening to her. “As you all know we are being sent out because of all the recent activity. Hope is that this time we will be able to find where their nook is this time. We’ll be heading a couple leagues west since we managed to narrow it down last week. Now get your weapons and meet me at the gate.” With that they took their swords, hammer, shields, bow, and crossbow and headed to the entrance of the small outpost. Once they had all assembled they started their march out to their search area…

…The squad spent most of their time silent knowing that the dogs could pop up out of nowhere. Though there hasn’t been anything of note along the path that they took. With not much further to go sharp stopped her team.

“Alright We’re almost there, remember to watch for the dogs. We’ll…” Sharp was going to continue but noticed that heavy smoke was coming over the forest to their north. She turned to the squad who had also noticed the smoke. Wordlessly they changed destinations and spent several minutes travelling to it hearing what sounded like a woodpecker echo through the forest before it was silenced. The clearing they came upon was full of burning metal. There were also the dogs roaming around. What surprised Sharp was the humans….

Though these ones seemed different than the ones in Canterlot. The dogs were collecting those that were still alive from the humans while some were collecting their dead. Though there seemed to be a difference between them based on gear they had. It seemed to be mostly ones wearing blue helmets.

While trying to gain intel on the dogs from the forest Silver noticed the leader of the pack among the metal messing with a human. The dog was talking to the human with its foot against them. Silver pointed out the leader and Sharp quickly made a plan. It took about two of them to fight just one so they decided it would be best to take them by surprise. Though before they could start it the dogs started executing them. Sharp took out her crossbow as the Quick Strike readied his bow. Sharp once she loaded, aimed it up at one of the two dogs that went to the survivor who couldn’t move. As she was about to fire one was jumped and forced to the ground so she let the bolt go towards the other one which succeeded in a killing hit through the back of the skull. The remaining dogs turned towards them but the rest of the squad was ready and they charged out though Glistening fired a flare spell before following.

Sharp charged forward after swinging her crossbow to the side and used her ability to fly to go over a dog while Quick Strike came in low as the dog turned around and shoved his sword into his torso. Sharp changed her attention to the human and noticed the dog going past towards the injured one with a sword. She gave herself a speed boost to stop the Dogs hit from connecting as the human lifted an arm. Before the dogs sword connected she reached them in time to parry it and forced the dog away. She continued to block the dog's swings and forced it back. This enraged the dog and it forced Sharp to move back with swings.

Then the dog surprised her by letting her get in a swing into his arm. It used its own sword to force away her sword and throw her while gutting her with his now free hands. Forcing her onto the ground. She was gasping for breath as it sat on top of her bringing up the arm she cut and was about to hit her but stopped. The dog seemed to become scared as it took in its surroundings. Specifically the wounded Human behind her.

“Fuck you” it was barely said but she and the dog heard it. Then her hearing was overcome by the sound of a cannon. As she watched the dog's body was thrown back. It seemed to happen slowly as the body fell away from here and parts of its head started to fall back to the earth.

She spent what felt like hours catching her breath. By the time she finally settled and noticed the ringing in ears as a medical unicorn was next to her tending her wounds. Thankful that Glistening sent the flare….

The medic soon nodded to her holding up 3 fingers as she got up and turned to the pinned human. Who the medic went to work on next. The human didn't appear to be in a good condition. Medical magic was still improving but it wasn't enough to deal with this. Though the medic tried anyway and was shocked by something.

She felt a hand grab her shoulder shaking her. Turning her head to look she saw it was Glistening who was talking but she couldn't hear. Though from the gesture she gathered that the squad was ready for command on what to do next. Luckily on the walk over to them her hearing started returning.

12:47, 23 ALR 4th, May

The 'Young Fox' watched as the Equestrian Soldiers worked on those that were wounded. He watched the entire time from his tree. Hidden only from the depth of the forest. He held the canister he was given earlier. Amazed that the old man had Bio Foam. The medical unit in the field started working on moving those that could live with proper aid. He couldn't help but think about how many of them were inadvertently killed.

"We walk a fine line between good and evil…. what a pity…. that it's a few that pay…. in the name of doing good."

He continued watching until his pocket buzzed. He sighed and grabbed a phone out of his pocket. Tapping the power and checking the message he had.

'Once they have moved out, take what you can. Ad Victoriam and that crap. The Old man wants you to keep an eye on the locals from a distance. I'll work on getting you some armor drops. Though the princesses are currently in the next room having tea.-M'

Fox looked back at the Medics who had removed the injured man from the metal spike and got him onto a stretcher and took off followed by others with more wounded and the original scouting party that discovered them. He waited as they left before heading to see what he could scavenge. Following them could wait for now and the dogs were easy to track.

Author's Note

Hey hey hey...... I finally got around to finishing this......

Anyways I can see that some areas need improvement. Kind of just said I had it and continued after rewriting a part so many times. So If you see anything then 'thoughts and criticism is basically food pellets'. So hey if you see anything that could be improved nuke it. Fugitively or literally, pretty much easier here than college essays.

Anyways I'll try for at least a month for updates.

Also ohhhhh~ there is a mysterious third party that is responsible for all these issues. Yeah..... I'll blame myself for not actually planning what to release as an actual story first.... Just got to get back to my brother to finish that. Might actually upload that first before continuing this or might try running two stories at a time.

Anyways enjoy you're life, we could all use some relaxation.